Drivers don’t always notice dead end on Niles street

By Ed Runyan

runyan@vindy.com

NILES

When Chuck Woods learned that someone had driven through the fence at the dead end of Russell Avenue on Friday morning, he wasn’t surprised.

“It happens every two to three years,” said Woods, 50, who lives two houses away from the dead end. “I wasn’t surprised. It’s happened at least 20 times over the last 50 years.”

One woman died after her car passed through the dead end, Woods said.

The Ashberry Village Apartments on Cedar Avenue are on the other side of the wood fence, and this time, the vehicle passed through the fence and traveled another 60 feet or so into the nearest condominium.

No one was hurt, including an 18-year-old man who was inside the condo, but the driver got out of the car, took her purse and fled on foot, police said.

Erin N. Smith, 25, of Dennison Avenue, McDonald, turned herself in to Niles police Sunday and pleaded innocent Monday in Niles Municipal Court to leaving the scene of an accident, driving under suspension and reckless operation, all misdemeanors.

Woods said he thinks the reason so many people have driven through the fence is that they think they are on Cedar Avenue, one road to the west, and don’t realize the road is going to come to an abrupt end.

Cedar Avenue is a common route into McDonald from Niles. Cedar and Russell run south off of Robbins Avenue a short distance west of U.S. Route 422.

“There are never any skid marks,” Woods said of the drivers passing through the fence, usually late at night after the bars close and frequently at high speeds. Police say Smith’s accident happened about 2 a.m.

Woods said a police officer told him the city might consider putting up a guard rail at the dead end so that the condominium residents will be better protected. Woods said he understands the reason but wonders if it will cause more serious harm to the next driver who blindly drives into it.

Smith, meanwhile, has made a number of criminal- court appearances over the years.

In April 2009, she was convicted in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court of a felony cocaine-possession charge and misdemeanor attempted receiving-stolen-property charge and was sentenced to five years probation.

She also has been convicted in Niles Municipal Court of misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, assault, marijuana possession and drug abuse.